In this episode, IMC’s director Kenneth Kileen and guest host Matthew Winkler caught up with jazz guitarist Joe O’Callaghan. Matthew is a Dublin-based guitarist and has been running a YouTube channel with a series called Dublin Guitar Duets, and Joe - who was mostly self-taught guitar - has played with many leading Irish and international jazz musicians.

Joe O’Callaghan is a genuine force in Irish jazz guitar, his playing characterised by extended tasteful lines, contemporary chord shapes and an instinct for rocking out when the need arises. A leading figure in the scene, Joe has performed with Irish and international jazz musicians including Ronan Guilfoyle, Louis Stewart, Richie Buckley, Michael Buckley, Honor Heffernans, Dave Liebman, Tom Rainey, & Nils Wogram.

Throughout their conversation, Joe talks about how his journey as a guitarist began. Although his father was a part-time musician and his uncle was a drummer who was very interested in jazz music, Joe initially had no interest in guitar. He mentions the pivotal moment in his life which encouraged him to pursue guitar and led him to become an influential and genuine force in Irish jazz guitar.

Joe speaks about the major influencers in his life that opened up the world of jazz and guitar for him and also gets into what helped him find his individual and independent sound. He talks about the change in music and the evolution of jazz over the years. People now don’t have as much definition about what the music is – there are now many influences from all cultures and its become more difficult to define as one entity. Joe makes capitvating points about how jazz has become a meta-genre as there is now much more assimilation.

Find Joe’s work on his Bandcamp: https://joeocallaghan.bandcamp.com/album/the-silent-tree

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Improvised Music Company is an Arts Council funded promoter and resource organisation www.improvisedmusic.ie

Thanks to Justin Carroll's Togetherness for our podcast theme https://justincarroll.bandcamp.com/album/togetherness

In this episode, IMC’s director Kenneth Killeen sat down with US pianist Craig Taborn to discuss all things improvisation prior to his triumphant Dublin concert. Craig was kicking off his European tour in support of his latest ECM solo release, “Shadow Plays” - released 10 years after his first offering, “Avenging Angels.”

In this wide ranging conversation, they talked about Craig’s approach to improvisation and how it forms his distinctive process of spontaneous composition; Taborn is famed for developing complex, rich, dynamic and beautiful soundscapes entirely “in the moment”.

Throughout, Craig talks about the variety of approaches that he incorporates, including the use of themes and structural frameworks. “One of the most challenging aspects of creating improvised music is that you can so easily get lost in your own imagination while performing”; Craig mentions a few tricks and devices that he uses to get out of his head to enforce continuity throughout his creative process.

One of Craig’s most compelling points is the idea of considering himself as an audience member during his performances - Taborn feels that there is no separation between him and the audience as he is also listening in the same way as the audience members within the concert hall.

Dive into this wide-ranging and informative chat now and be sure to share it with your friends if you enjoyed it!

Find Craig's work on his website: https://craigtaborn.com

Follow him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craig.taborn and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigtaborn/

If you enjoy this podcast please Subscribe and leave us a review!

Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/imcmusic

@improvisedmusic on Twitter and Instagram

Improvised Music Company is an Arts Council funded promoter and resource organisation www.improvisedmusic.ie

Thanks to Justin Carroll's Togetherness for our podcast theme https://justincarroll.bandcamp.com/album/togetherness

In this episode, IMC’s Kenneth Killeen caught up with Segun Akano & Uché Gabriel Akujobi from Yankari Afrobeat Collective at The Sugar Club. They talked about what makes Afrobeat - the culture, rhythm, & message that’s essential to it, and about identity, and transforming identities bringing cultures together. We also got a great insight into Yankari’s creative process, and how they work together making music.

Die-hard Fela fans, Dublin-based band Yankari, aspire to advance the original Afrobeat genre by incorporating contemporary sounds, such as, jazz, funk, dance, rock-and-roll whilst keeping the traditional groove elements of Afrobeat. This new sound has world-wide appeal and the Yankari fan base stretches from Ireland to Japan, Brazil to Spain, Nigeria to the US.

Yankari founding members, brothers Segun and Michael Akano along with Uché Gabriel Akujobi, are originally from Nigeria and came together in Dublin while playing at various gigs around the city. Gradually through the love of music and rhythms from their Yoruba and Igbo cultures they created the groovy and energetic sound that is reminiscent of Afrobeat of the 60's and 70's but with a modern twist. That sound is called Yankari.

Find Yankari’s work on their website: https://yankarimusic.com/home

Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yankarimusic/, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yankarimusic/ or Bandcamp: https://yankari.bandcamp.com/

More of Segun’s music is on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/segun-akano He also gave a recent interview to Hot Press which you can read here https://www.hotpress.com/music/yankari-afrobeat-collectives-segun-akano-on-what-to-expect-from-tonights-sugar-club-show-22885040 and spoke to us about what Afrobeat is in a previous interview for Hotter than July which you can read here (including a playlist of Afrobeat essentials): https://www.improvisedmusic.ie/news/other-side-of-the-tracks-qa-with-segun-from-yankari-afrobeat-collective

You can find more of Gabriel’s music and acting work on his website http://uchegabriel.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/uchegabrielakujobi/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/uchegabriela

If you enjoy this podcast please Subscribe and leave us a review!

Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/imcmusic

@improvisedmusic on Twitter and Instagram

Improvised Music Company is an Arts Council funded promoter and resource organisation www.improvisedmusic.ie

Thanks to Justin Carroll's Togetherness for our podcast theme https://justincarroll.bandcamp.com/album/togetherness